Lijiang hosts national forum for village leaders

The 15th National Village Leaders Forum was held in Lijiang on Oct 10, with more than 800 people attending, Lijiang Daily reported.

More than 800 delegates attend the 15th National Village Leaders Forum in Lijiang, Yunnan province on Oct 10. [Photo/ yunnan.gov.cn]

Shao Qiwei, head of the National Tourism Bureau, addressed the forum. He said that villages should develop rural tourism for environmental protection and poverty alleviation. The forum has been held for 15 years in a row. It is a premium opportunity for village leaders to meet and exchange ideas.

This year is the first time for the forum to be held in an ethnic minority area. “We can use this opportunity to exchange experience and seek cooperation opportunities,” said Luo Jie, secretary of the Party’s Lijiang Committee. He also welcomed delegates to learn about Lijiang and give suggestions to the town’s development.

Developed and developing villages signed cooperation agreements. According to these agreements, developed villages should give help to less developed villages for their economic and social development.

This year’s forum was cosponsored by China Villages Promotion Society, the Party’s Yulong County Committee, and Yulong County Government. Related forums were also held including the China Unique Villages Conference and the China-Korea Village Leaders Exchanges. An ethnic villages memorial also opened during the forum.

Jiuxing village in Shanghai signs an agreement with Shiba Zhaigou village, Yunnan province, at the 15th National Village Leaders Forum on Oct 10. [Photo/ lijiang.gov.cn]

Villager leaders from different ethnicities gather in Lijiang for the fifteenth National Village Leaders Conference on Oct 10. [Photo/ lijiang.gov.cn]